Since I had had so much success with these Absolute Best Brownies, despite the universal skepticism towards any recipe that claims to be
the “Absolute Best” or “Best Ever”, I decided…why not try my luck searching for
other “Best” recipes? What would I have
to lose? On one hand, it could turn out
disappointing, in which case I will only be one batch of something or other worse
for wear, maybe a little disillusioned, but that would be a small price to pay
if the recipe actually did in fact prove to be the “Best”, or even close to it.
the “Absolute Best” or “Best Ever”, I decided…why not try my luck searching for
other “Best” recipes? What would I have
to lose? On one hand, it could turn out
disappointing, in which case I will only be one batch of something or other worse
for wear, maybe a little disillusioned, but that would be a small price to pay
if the recipe actually did in fact prove to be the “Best”, or even close to it.
With this in mind, I immediately started a search for the
“best” chocolate chip cookies. As with
brownies, chocolate chip cookie are one of those ubiquitous sweets of which
there are probably a million recipes out there. So I courageously typed out “best chocolate chip
cookie recipe ever” in my search engine, and used the very first recipe on the
list. This is that recipe.
“best” chocolate chip cookies. As with
brownies, chocolate chip cookie are one of those ubiquitous sweets of which
there are probably a million recipes out there. So I courageously typed out “best chocolate chip
cookie recipe ever” in my search engine, and used the very first recipe on the
list. This is that recipe.
I don’t know if it was Alice’s gorgeous photos, or her unwavering certainty that her recipe was indeed the very best, or the over 700
comments mostly raving about the recipe, that won me over (or maybe it was that ‘EVER’
was in all caps), but win me over it did.
It also made perfect, irrational, sense to me, that, since this was an
experiment, I should go with the first recipe that popped up.
comments mostly raving about the recipe, that won me over (or maybe it was that ‘EVER’
was in all caps), but win me over it did.
It also made perfect, irrational, sense to me, that, since this was an
experiment, I should go with the first recipe that popped up.
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe EVER!
(adapted from Savory Sweet Life)
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups (12 oz) all purpose flour (weighing your flour
is recommended) - 3/4 teaspoon smallish-medium coarse sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
– Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy (about 3
minutes on medium-high speed). Check
Alice’s photo on how fluffy should look.
minutes on medium-high speed). Check
Alice’s photo on how fluffy should look.
– Add eggs and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
– Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour until everything
is fully incorporated.
is fully incorporated.
– Finally add the chocolate chips until well distributed.
The cookie batter should be somewhat
thick. Place the batter in a food-grade container
or ziplock bag and store in the fridge for 24 hours (up to 36).
The cookie batter should be somewhat
thick. Place the batter in a food-grade container
or ziplock bag and store in the fridge for 24 hours (up to 36).
– When you are ready to bake the cookies, drop about 2
tablespoons of dough (or use a medium cookie scoop) onto a baking sheet lined
with parchment paper. Bake for 12-14 minutes in a pre-heated 360F oven until
the edges are nice and golden brown. Do
not over-bake!
tablespoons of dough (or use a medium cookie scoop) onto a baking sheet lined
with parchment paper. Bake for 12-14 minutes in a pre-heated 360F oven until
the edges are nice and golden brown. Do
not over-bake!
– Remove from heat and allow the cookies to stay on the
cookie sheet for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer cookie to a wire rack. Allow
the cookies to cool on the paper for at least 3 minutes before serving.
cookie sheet for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer cookie to a wire rack. Allow
the cookies to cool on the paper for at least 3 minutes before serving.
Full
disclosure. I must confess that I did more than just jump, bright-eyed and innocent, on the first recipe that came my way. I looked a bit further and picked out tips from a
few other “best ever” posts. The one technique
that I decided to incorporate into Alice’s already ever-so-promising recipe was
to let the dough rest as prescribed by The New York Times in their own search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. I
tried these after both a 12 and 24 hour rest in the fridge, and the 24 hour rest
batch was definitely superior. I didn’t
have the time to test a 36 hour rest, but I will certainly try it as the NYT
proclaims it to produce, by far, the best cookies. This recipe makes about 4 dozens – I only
baked 2 dozen, so the remaining dough I rolled into two logs, plastic-wrapped
and ziplocked them, and tucked them into the freezer for an extended respite (to
be brought to life at a later cookie-craving date). Cookie dough in the freezer – I cannot recommend a surer safeguard
against life’s rainy days.
disclosure. I must confess that I did more than just jump, bright-eyed and innocent, on the first recipe that came my way. I looked a bit further and picked out tips from a
few other “best ever” posts. The one technique
that I decided to incorporate into Alice’s already ever-so-promising recipe was
to let the dough rest as prescribed by The New York Times in their own search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. I
tried these after both a 12 and 24 hour rest in the fridge, and the 24 hour rest
batch was definitely superior. I didn’t
have the time to test a 36 hour rest, but I will certainly try it as the NYT
proclaims it to produce, by far, the best cookies. This recipe makes about 4 dozens – I only
baked 2 dozen, so the remaining dough I rolled into two logs, plastic-wrapped
and ziplocked them, and tucked them into the freezer for an extended respite (to
be brought to life at a later cookie-craving date). Cookie dough in the freezer – I cannot recommend a surer safeguard
against life’s rainy days.
So was this the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe EVER? I would definitely, unhesitatingly, say that it is one of the best I have ever tried. I wouldn’t want to, however, shut any future chocolate chip cookie awesomeness out of my life so I’ll say they are the best…for now 🙂
I am so pleased with the results of my “Best Ever” search
that I plan to explore this forthrightly optimistic path some more. Sometimes, all you need to add a bit of deliciousness
to your life is a suspension of cynicism.
You may just be pleasantly surprised at the results, whether it be with
cookies or brownies or anything else.
Next on my agenda, on which I plan to try this tactic, is chocolate
cake…wish me luck!
that I plan to explore this forthrightly optimistic path some more. Sometimes, all you need to add a bit of deliciousness
to your life is a suspension of cynicism.
You may just be pleasantly surprised at the results, whether it be with
cookies or brownies or anything else.
Next on my agenda, on which I plan to try this tactic, is chocolate
cake…wish me luck!
They look fntastic! Perfect looking.
Cheers,
Rosa
Why do I have a feeling I might make this as well? I can sense a pattern. 😀
Guh. Madly want some now. I almost want to lick the screen. Keep me away from the computer durn it.
Nice! 🙂
This was very good. I tried it -stary
Thanks Rosa! 🙂
Hi Gio! Hehe 🙂 I am so happy to have stumbled on this recipe!
Hi Kaoko! Haha!
Hi Shalum! Thanks!
Hi Stary! Glad you liked them 🙂
Did you add the walnuts as well?
Although some of the proportions are a little different, the recipe is VERY similar to David Lebovitz' salted butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. And those were delicious.
Like you, I'm half reluctant/half eager to try recipes touted as the "best ever"/"ultimate"/"amazing" or any other similar superlative. Part of me doesn't want to be disappointed (as in, "what, this is it?!?!") but part of me wonders what if it WAS the best, and I ignored it? Haha.
Hmm, I think I'll let the cookie dough rest from now on. Thanks for the tip.
I think your cookies look FAR better than the ones in the original post! I couldn't stop staring at your cookies, because it looks like there's so much chocolate in it that the chips are bursting from the cookie! That does look like a great recipe. Though, her friend Ashley's recipe, which she links to, sounds more interesting to me, since she uses real chocolate chunks, and the cross section of that gooey center looks scrumptious! I think I'll send my sister both recipes, plus the one from the NYT, so we can do a taste test. 😀
Wow, these are great for Friday night movie marathon at home paired with hot milk! Thanks for sharing
Hi Kat! I need to get David Lebovitz's book already! He's recipes seem to be winners! When it comes to the "best" recipes, I've decided to err on the side of optimism 🙂
Hi Dexie! I really believe it makes a difference!
Hi Katrina! Wow! Thanks for the compliment!! 🙂 🙂 The cookies are really a chock full of chips — in the original recipe Alice mentions that you really need the full amount of chips (it's more than a bag)…I certainly won't argue with more chocolate! I am planning to do these with chocolate chunks next…the best I can find! Let me know how your sis' experiments go!
Hi Dhanggit! What a perfect idea!! I love movie nights at home…with cookies and milk even better 🙂
Amazing cookies, Joey! I'm sure they must have also tasted fantastic.
YUM! My fav. Thanks for the recipe. Second David Liebowitz. He has amazing recipes. Try his butterscotch pudding. Delicious!
I'm so glad you liked the Brownies…. and I'm so glad you tracked down these cookies for me. Oh, wait… You didn't do it for me? never mind, thank you anyway. I'm making them!!!
Hi Midge! We loved them!
Hi Neo! Thanks for the tip on the butterscotch pudding!
Hi Katiez! I did it for all of you! Heehee 🙂 Thank for the brownie recipe link…it was fantastic!
I tried making these cookies last week and I must say they live up to their name! I tend to shy away from baking cookies because they end up crispy when I want them chewy. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂 – claire
Glad you liked them Claire!
I am stuck in the NYTs recipe. I've never had so many compliments on a cookie. I really think it's the rest that helps these cookies "Bloom!"
I won a baking contest with this recipe. I left out the nuts…. but omg amazing!!!
Amazing Is ALL I CAN SAY!!!!!!!!!
the temp to bake them is it 360 or 350 degrees? no t sure if that was a typo.
Hi Lauren! No typo…that’s the temp in the original recipe so I just followed it here. Although since my oven thermometer can’t measure 360 precisely I just approximate (just a little bit over 350) 🙂